MONROVIA, February 6 (LINA) – The Government of Liberia and the African Development Bank (AfDB) Friday signed an agreement for the second phase of the Harper-Fish Town highway.
The US$108 million project is funded by the African Development Fund and Transition Support Facility.
The 96-km road will include a link to Cote d’Ivoire with a support bridge over the Cavalla River between Harper City in Liberia and San Pedro in Cote d’Ivoire.
The first phase of the construction work will begin this month owing to delays caused by the Ebola epidemic.
AfDB Resident Representative Margaret Kilo signed for the bank while Finance Minister Amara Konneh signed for the Liberian government in Monrovia. The ceremony was witnessed by Public Works Minister William Gyude Moore and Information Minister Lewis Brown.
The agreement is subject to ratification by the National Legislature.
Speaking at the ceremony, Kilo said the project will open up the southeast, assist government deliver social services and create market access to improve incomes for people in the area.
She said as part of the Mano River Initiative, the road will increase trade and interconnection between Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Liberia when the full stretch of the road from Harper to Ganta is fully paved.
She urged the Liberian Government to ensure that the remaining condition for Phase One is finalized by the payment of compensation of Project Affected People (PAP).
In remarks, Finance Minister Konneh said road construction is one of the pillars of the Agenda for Transformation that targets improving infrastructure that drive of economic growth.
He thanked the AfDB for the funding and assured that the Liberian government will meet its obligations to complete the project on time.
LINA